In July, he told the AFL website that "The next decision that I'll be making will be based on what my family wants to do, not necessarily where or what football I'm playing."

McPhee thrived in his first season under new Dockers coach Ross Lyon, playing 21 games, after being settled in the backline, mostly minding small forwards.

He has played 223 games at Essendon and Fremantle since 2001, in a variety of roles. In a unique career, he played his first two seasons for the Dockers, had seven years at Essendon, mostly as a half-forward, before returning to Fremantle in 2010.

He was named All-Australian in 2004, when he won the Bombers' club champion award.

The Dockers could face a recasting of their backline if McPhee joins Dylan Roberton, Greg Broughton (traded to Gold Coast) and Antoni Grover (retirement) in leaving the Dockers.

Midfielders Jesse Crichton and Nick Lower have been delisted, but will continue to train with the Dockers in the hope of filling the potential vacancy created by McPhee’s departure, or a rookie berth.